New Guinea Force

New Guinea Force
An Australian soldier, Private George "Dick" Whittington, is aided by Papuan orderly Raphael Oimbari, near Buna on 25 December 1942. [notes 1]
Active1942–1944
CountryAustralia
AllegianceAustralia / Allied Forces
BranchAustralian Army
TypeCorps
RoleI Corps
Part ofFirst Australian Army
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Sir Thomas Blamey
Sir Leslie Morshead
Sir Edmund Herring

New Guinea Force was a military command unit for Australian, United States and native troops from the Territories of Papua and New Guinea serving in the New Guinea campaign during World War II. Formed in April 1942, when the Australian First Army was formed from the Australian I Corps after it returned from the Middle East, it was responsible for planning and directing all operations within the territory up until October 1944.[1][2] General Headquarters Southwest Pacific Area Operational Instruction No.7 of 25 May 1942, issued by Commander-Allied-Forces, General Douglas MacArthur, placed all Australian and US Army, Air Force and Navy Forces in the Port Moresby Area under the control of New Guinea Force.[2] Over the course of its existence, New Guinea Force was commanded by some of the Australian Army's most notable commanders, including Sydney Rowell, Sir Edmund Herring and Sir Leslie Morshead.[3]

General Sir Thomas Blamey also commanded the force in 1942 while based in Port Moresby.[4]


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  1. ^ Johnston 2007, p. 10.
  2. ^ a b GHQ SWPA.
  3. ^ Johnston 2007, pp. 10–11.
  4. ^ Mallett 2003, pp. 102–117.